IWe have developed a process for handling all
our projects which allows us to manage and deliver solutions to
our clients. Please review our specification below for more information
on how we do our work.
Systems Development Process
A major part of our time is spent with the client ironing out
details and requirements for the project. Our process is broken
into the following steps:
Initial Interview
The initial interview lays the foundation for the future of the
project. This meeting focuses on the overall project description,
general requirements are gathered including project scope, timeline
considerations, budget, business goals and technology. With the
information gathered here our team can begin planning a draft of
the project.
Project Outline creation
Immediately following the Initial Interview
phase we begin drafting the outline of the project. This outline
will define general data pathways, business relationships, entities,
timelines, resources allocations, tasks, milestones and goals.
Brainstorming
The brainstorming phase occurs both at the client and at our offices.
We sit with the client and hammer out key features and generate
possible solutions for the business problems. Interviews with all
client staff that will interact with the data are conducted. Process
flow diagrams are drafted and entity relationships are setup.
Requirements Analysis
To us, this is probably the most important phase of development.
After this phase is completed a functional requirements document
is produced. This document is essentially the blueprint for the
proposed system. This document is handed off to the development
team to create the actual implementation, therefore this phase must
gather all the information that is need to ensure success. Along
with the client, we design and map out the entire system, a paper
prototype of sorts, of the proposed system. At the end of it all
our developers should have exactly what is needed in the functional
requirements document to jump in and start coding.
Database Design
The core of any business is the data. The proper design of data
sinks (databases) for storing and managing the data is essential
and most important. With the functional requirements document in
hand the database designers map the entity relationships to data
tables for capturing data. When this phase is completed the programming
staff can now begin coding the front end of the application.
Implementation
This phase is as the name suggests. This is where the developers
create the application that will mimic the real life situations
for solving the business problems. Business rules are implementated
and features/functions highlighted in the functional requirement
documentation created.
Testing and Debugging
During the actual coding of the application, our developers perform
rigorous testing, but when the entire application is completed an
even more intense testing and debugging schedule is initiated. Load
testing, security testing and requirements matching are done to
ensure that the application, first of all, does what is was supposed
to do and then to ensure that it performs well under load. When
we are sure that the system can be moved into Beta software level,
this means that a sufficient number of the bugs in the software
have been removed we can now deploy the system.
Documentation
Prior to deployment, the entire system
is documented, including technical and end user documentation so
that future enhancements and user interation will be easily handled
because of the reference materials available.
Deployment
During this phase we take the software into the front lines and
deploy it into the actual operating environment.
Acceptance Testing
Live data is introduced into the system and we allow the system
to operate in a real world environment. All persons who will interact
with the system have a chance to work and test the system. This
is a key phase because it is the people who actually have to use
the system who provide the most insight into flaws and benefits.
Discovered bugs are fixed and changes are made during this phase.
When the software has been approved after this phase we move it
into final release status, indicating that the software has passed
all tests successfully and should now perform operations adequately.
End User Training
Users are trained in the proper use of the system.
Support and Maintenance
During the lifetime of the system, we may be contracted to support
and maintain the system, including upgrades that may become necessary
due to a change in business operations.
We believe that the phases outlined above guarantee a wholesome
product for our clients and allow us to deliver solutions that reflect
client requirements.
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